4. It doesn’t have to be steel. Aluminium-frame bicycles are cheaper, lighter and strong enough for the job, providing you ride sensibly.

5. Travel with four panniers. This requires having both front and back frames fitted to your bicycle. Cycling with a rucksack is a sure route to back pain and misery, while towing a trailer means two extra wheels that could suffer punctures.

6. Schrader tyre valves, also known as “car-type” valves, are more practical than presta valves as they can be inflated at any garage.

7. Get a Visa debit card. These are accepted in far more cash machines than any others.

8. See crazyguyonabike.com, where you can find dozens of articles about long-distance journeys, as well as discussion forums and reviews.

9. Most importantly of all, you don’t need to be called Lance Armstrong. Most of the cyclists I met during my journey had no previous cycling experience. It didn’t stop them. It won’t stop you.﻿